She wouldn't have been offended had he mentioned the weight, others had and she herself wasn't blind to it either. Not that Pippa was particularly pleased with the snug fit to some of her clothing but she accepted it for what it was. Besides, if Marcello and Alessandro had their ways about it, she'd add another twenty pounds or more to her frame. Mangia, mangia! seemed to be their favorite phrase.

Pippa smiled again at Rory's kiss and shook her hand free from his to loop her arm around his waist instead. This felt good, the small indulgence of invading his personal space and pretending for the moment that things were perfectly fine between them. So much for the caution she knew she should exercise.

The walk to her Venice home wasn't long, a few short blocks and over a footbridge or two and they were standing outside of a tall stucco and plaster covered building with terrazzo steps leading to a heavy wooden door. Perched in the window on the third floor was an orange cat, lazily watching something or another in the wrought iron flower box that was overflowing with bright colored blooms.

"Come in, meet Tiberus." Yes, she'd noticed the furry menace and that he was in her room, yet again. As Pippa pushed open the door and stepped into the cool foyer, she waved Rory in as well. The maestro, she didn't mention even if he was likely somewhere in the house.